Zidane was previously in charge of the Real Madrid Castilla side, having taken up the job in June 2014 after serving as assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti when Los Blancos won La Decima and the Copa del Rey in 2013-14.

He is, as yet, unproven at the highest level, but he was hugely successful with Real as a player, winning a La Liga title and a Champions League at the Bernabeu between 2001 and 2006.

Zidane also won two Serie A titles with Juventus in his playing career and a World Cup and a European Championship as part of the French national team.

One of Zidane's first tasks will be to get Cristiano Ronaldo back onside and quell ongoing reports that he may be headed for the exit door in the summer, per Bruce Archer of the Daily Express. Ronaldo was rumoured to have a poor relationship with Benitez, per Fox Sports (h/t AS, via ESPN FC).

Given Zidane's standing at the club from his time as a player, he will likely be given time to make an impression, but he is still under huge pressure to perform in his first senior managerial post.